Free Ice Cream, Free Beer, More Kerlaches, More Tequila, Bastille Day Dining, and Other Such Delights

Here’s some of what's happening in Austin's culinary scene – as wrangled from numerous PR releases, words on the digital street, and even the occasional (verified) IRL eavesdroppings.

Yes, citizen, it’s your “Food News Buffet” for the second week of July.

Cold enough for ya? The Museum of Ice Cream (11506 Century Oaks Terrace) hits the local road on the way to National Ice Cream Day, taking their adorable refrigerated truck to serve up free ice cream along South Congress Avenue on Saturday-Sunday, July 15-16, from noon to 8pm. They’ll be offering a variety of treats, games, and giveaways – including a chance to win the Ultimate Ice Cream Party at MOIC Austin…

We told you about Kerlaches (2505 Webberville) a while back, right? Yes: An outpost of Kerlin BBQ, selling kolaches made with oak-smoked Texas barbecue – the sort of thicc, bready morsels that make your eyes light up and your stomach say, “Howdy!” Well, the venture’s been doing so well (duh) that they’ve opened a second location, in South Austin’s Thicket Food Truck Park at 7800 S. First…

Oh, hey! That paradoxically relaxing bastion of supreme caffeination and hoppy brews, Radio Coffee & Beer (4204 Menchaca Rd.), will also be opening a second location – Radio/East (3504 Montopolis) – in the fall of this year, and they’re stoked about the first three food trucks they’ve got lined up to supercharge the imminent venue with some of the city’s best noms: Veracruz All Natural, Shortwave Diner, and Side Eye Slice. Yeah, okay, we’re impressed – and hongry…

You may recall that Lalo Tequila was among the agave-based spirits featured in the Chronicle’s tequila issue last week. Well. That same esteemed Lalo enterprise is the focus of a multicourse tequila-pairing dinner at Swoop House (3012 Gonzales), from the chefs of Austin’s own De Nada Cantina – and, if you know how tasty the food at that Eastside joint is, you’re likely already clicking your device for a reservation on Thursday, July 20, 7:30pm…

Let’s see – what else, what else? Well, the Cookbook Cafe at Austin’s Central Library is closed forever… but, on a cheerier note, locally beloved Allday Pizza will be among the culinary powerhouses moving into that former post office at 4300 Speedway in Hyde Park… and Blue Owl Brewing is offering free samples of their newest beer on Friday… and you can set your appetite free on Bastille Day weekend, as Swoop House gets all Frenchified with their delectable two-nights-only soirée… not that the fine chefs of 1417 French Bistro are sitting on their hands that weekend, oh hell no… ’course, maybe you want to dine in style all day long? Then we’ll recommend starting with Saturday’s Funk Brunch at Vixen’s Wedding… we also hear that Wax Myrtle’s in the Thompson Hotel is doing a fresh relaunch of their excellent weekend brunches, as of this weekend, and mmmmmbaby we couldn’t be happier…

WUXTRY! Andiamo Ristorante (2521 Rutland), that northside dining destination dishing up authentic Italian food since 2004, has a new ower: Mike Smith, the man who’s led such Austin culinary icons as Gumbo’s, Shoreline Grill, and Jeffrey’s. Pro tip: Unless you hate eggplant, order the ravioli di melanzane and be prepared to experience a veritable mouthgasm of pleasure…

DOUBLE WUXTRY! The philanthropic folks of Lick Honest Ice Creams have partnered with Out Youth for this month – July, which is Ice Cream Month, yes – collecting donations for that community organization in their nine scoop shops across Texas. And, to sweeten the deal, any Lick customer who donates $20 or more in July will receive a Free Scoop Card to redeem whenever they want…

TRIPLE WUXTRY! Which Austin restaurants won an award from Wine Spectator, "the world's leading authority on wine," this year? Click here to find out.

Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and FFS keep yourself properly hydrated in the midst of all this heat.